Wire-fence-gate fastener.



A. N. SANDQUIST.- 1

WIRE FENCE GATE FASTENER.- APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 22, 1908.

V Patented July 12,1910.

5llatter having means whereby strain may be a a sa* 1 AXEL N. SANDQUIST, OF BELGRADE, MONTANA.

WIRE-FENCE-GATE FASTENER.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Serial No. 439,761.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AXEL N. SANDoUIs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belgrade, in the county of Gallatin, State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Fence-Gate Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gates, more particularly to gates employed in wire fence structures, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed device of this character whereby the gate may be fastened in closed position and a strain applied to the gate structure to retain it firmly in position.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate of the form to which the improved device is more particularly applicable together with portions of the fence structure at each side of the gate-way opening. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the improved fastening device together with a portion of the gate post and a portion of the fence post adjacent thereto, with the device in open position. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the device in closed or strained position. Fig. t is a plan view of the fastening device detached.

The improved device is designed for use more particularly upon the gates employed in wire fence structures wherein the strand wires are extended from one of the fence posts at one side of the gate-way opening to the post at the opposite side and connect ed at their free ends to a movable post, the

applied to rigidly couple the movable post to the adjacent stationarv post, and the construction of this straining and fastening device is the principal object of the present invention, and for the purpose of illustration is shown applied to a gate of this character, the stationary posts defining the gate-way opening represented at 1011, the movable post at 12, the fence wires at 13, and the loop or strap whereby the movable post 12 is coupled to the post 11 at 14, all these parts being of the usua construction.

The improved device comprises a lever member 15 having a hand grip 16 at one end and a lateral offset 17 at the other end, the offset portion forked to bear over the upper end of the movable post 12 and pivoted thereto at 18. Projecting from the side of the lever opposite to the offset 17 is an arm 23 terminating in a bill or hook 19 which curves backwardly or toward the body of the lever and with a recess 20 at the juncture of the arm and the body of the lever, the recess being preferably increased in depth by a projecting rib 21. An endless loop 22 of relatively heavy wire is disposed over the stationary post 11 in position to be engaged with the hook 19 as hereinafter explained. By this arrangement when the gate is to be closed the lower end of the movable post 12 is disposed in the strap 14 and the lever 15 disposed in vertical position above the post 12 and the arm 23 and its hook 19 engaged with the loop 22. Then by moving the lever away from the post 11 and downwardly into a vertical position below the upper end of the post 12 a strain will be applied to the post 12 and draw it forcibly toward the post 11 and likewise apply a strain upon the wires 13 which are connected to the post 12, and thus close the gate. As the lever is actuated as above noted, the bight of the loop engaged by the arm 23 follows along the inner face of the arm and into the recess 20 where it is retained. It will be noted that the pivot 18 is nearer the end of the lever than the recess 20, so that when the lever is disposed in its lower or straining position, the loop 22 will come below the pivot 18 and thus lock the lever in position. When the lever is in its clownward or straining position, the rib 21 serves to support the loop and prevent it from moving downwardly upon the lever.

The ofiset portion 17 of the device is pro vided with two or more apertures for the pivot 18 so that the device may be applied to posts 12 of various sizes.

The improved device will be constructed preferably from malleable iron, so that 1t will withstand the strains to which it Wlll. be subjected, and may be applied to fences constructed from barbed wire, smooth wire, or the various forms of woven wire fences. The gate structure can be strained and suported as rigidly as any other portion of the 1 said lever arm, said fastener being further 15 ence, so that it will effectually turn the stock, and otherwise resist pressure applied thereto.

What is claimed, is r In combination with a bar at the free end of a gate, a post against which said gate closes and a link on said post, a fastener pivotally mounted on said end bar for angular movement in a plane parallel therewith, said fastener having a lever arm and a hook for engaging said link, said hook comprising an arm at substantially right angles to said lever arm and a bill extending toward provided with a recess in the angle between said lever arm and the arm of said hook for the reception of said link when the said fastener is turned to cause its lever arm to bear against said end bar, said recess being located between the pivotal axis of the fastener and the inner end of said lever arm.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

AXEL N. SANDQUIST. WVitnesses:

W. H. CLARK, CHAS. VANDENHOOK. 

